The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-16


She moved more slowly, and her house
keeping talent was no longer in re-
quest. Added to this, the bank where
her little earnings had been growing
one day failed and left her high and
dry. Some of her friends had travelled
to pastures new, some had married
away, some had ignored or forgotten
her. AS for Larry Rogers, he had
been away from Plymouth this many a
year. Somebody had sent him abroad
the year after Lucy Amory's marriage
to develop his musical genius. He
had grown into famous violinist,
playing all over the country to crowded
houses, before the finest people in the
land. 1t was a beautiful romance to
Miss Becky to read in the Plymouth
Record about " our gifted townsman."
She seemed to hear the echo of his
violin when the wind swept through
the pine boughs. She did not blame him
because she sat in the shadow, because
her life had been colorless. She sang
again the old tunes he had taught her
and made a little sunshine in her
heart. All of happiness she had ever
known he had brought her. Why
should she complain? And now she
was going to the Old Ladies' Home.
1t isn't exactly what l expected in
my youth" she said to the old Doctors
widow.
mo; but you'll have nice room
and a bright fire, and the neighbors
will drop in to see you and make it
home-like. Now, there's old Mrs.
Gum. Nothing can persuade her to
90 to the home. She says it's only
genteel alms-house after all. And so she
rubs along with what little she can earn
and what the neighbors have mind to
send in, and they have to do it mighty
gingerly, too, just as if they were ask
ing favor of her. Lor' she doesn't
earn her salt"
" dare say" returned Miss Becky.
Now, if it hadn't been for the rheu-
matism l could earn my living for years
yet, and maybe get something ahead
again"
- You ought to have married when
you were young, Becky" said the doc
tors widow, who had forgotten all
about Becky's love affair and labored
under the impression that she never
had a chance-an impression which
matrons are apt to entertain concern
ing their single friends. Miss Becky
had been spending some weeks with
Mrs. DR.. Dwight, who had moved away
from Plymouth after her husbands
death. She was there chiefly to put
some stitches into the widows ward
robe, which nobody else would do so
reasonably" that lady's grief having
incapacitated her for holding needle
or giving her mind to material details
of seam and gusset and band" But
during the visit Miss Becky had been
seized with her sharpest attack of rheu
matism, which had kept her in bed for
weeks, till her wages were exhausted
by drugs and doctors fees.
Mrs. Dwight saw her off at the
station. 81 hope you'll find the home
cosy,'' she said, outside the car window.
It's lucky Parson Amory left you
that hundred dollars, after all. He
might have doubled it,"
Yes, l suppose So" Miss Becky
answered, meekly. Perhaps she was
thinking that if she were Mrs. Dwight
no old friend of hers should go begging
for a refuge at an alms-house. Per-
haps she was thinking of the pretty
comfortable home waiting for her friend,
and wondering why their fortunes were
so unlike.
Write when you reach Plymouth
and let me know how you're suited"
said Mrs. Dwight, and just then the
cars gave lurch and left her behind,
and Miss Becky turned her glance in
wards. Somebody had taken a seat
beside her.
Your friend was speaking of Par
son Amory and Plymouth" he said.
| couldn't help hearing. | was born
in Plymouth myself, but haven't met
a soul from there these twenty years.
| am on my way to look up my old
friends"
Twenty years is long time" an
swered Becky. " am afraid you won't
find many of your friends left. You'll
hardly know Plymouth"
81 suppose mott suppose not.
Have you lived there long?"
81? | have lived there all my days"
Good: Pm hungry for news of the
people. Tell me everything you can
think of. Did Parson Amory leave a
fortune? He was called close. Where's
Miss Nell, married or dead? can see
the old place in my minds eye, and the
parsonage under the elms, and the
orchard behind it where Lucy Amory
planted young tree on her wedding
day, and the gown little Becky Thorne
wore. BY the way, is she alive? Do
you know her?"
Miss Becky hesitated an instant.
Yes" she replied. 81 know her
more or less. She's alive"
And married?"
"Well, no; she never married.
"S She must be sixty odd; she was a
pretty creature, such--I suppose they
are wrinkles now Where have the
years gone? Is her home in the old
place still?"
"Her home!" said Miss Becky,
flushing little. "She has none; she
is on her way to the Old Ladies' Home. :"
"To the Old Ladies' Home! Becky
Thorne! " he gasped. "And /"
" You seem to have known her pretty
well" said Becky, who was beginning
to enjoy the incognitio.
81 should think so. I've loved
Becky Thorne from my cradle. We had
a silly quarrel which parted us-such a
trifle, when | look back. Do you ever
look back, MADAME"
The twilight was falling about them.
Becky's face had grown shade or two
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